oneill

A UK Unionist and also confirmed devo-sceptic. I believe the creation of devolved "governments" in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, along with the corresponding unsolved "English Question", has weakened that Union. The present-day Conservative Party would be the national party which would come closest to representing my political beliefs. I have previously belonged to the "Friends of the Conservatives" and the UUP but am no longer connected with either party. Outside of my Unionism, I consider myself as an economic libertarian, social liberal and secularist- e'g. am pro-choice, anti-schools segregated on the grounds of (parents') religious beliefs. Very suspicious of NI's Human Rights' Oligarchy (in particular the NIHRC) and hope to be writing on this topic, as well as wider UK and European political issues.

Dancing apart on the narrow ground

oneill on September 7, 2012, 11:27 am | Readers 360

The explosion of Dance Culture, fuelled by rave music and Ecstasy, is often credited with being one of the causes for the reduction in football hooliganism in England and Scotland in the late 80s, early 90s. If you follow the popular mythology, then hooligan outfits such as West Ham’s ICF and Millwall’s Bushwackers, overnight swapped their “hatchets and hammers” for tie-dyed t shirts, Deep House imports from Chicago and group hugs- Primal Scream’s “Come Together” took over “Come and have a …

Peterhead, Annan, Elgin etc here they come…Revenge or Redemption?

oneill on July 13, 2012, 7:26 pm | Readers 52

The second (or third, depending who you listen to) most supported club in Northern Ireland will next season be playing against clubs who rarely break 700 as an average home attendance. To put that figure in context, on occasions there are probably more Rangers fans travelling over from Ulster alone to watch their team than season ticket holders at Galabank or Broadfield. On so many levels the decision to relegate one half of the Old Firm to the Scottish Third …

“The Progressive Patriot” by Billy Bragg: a book review.

oneill on December 10, 2011, 6:22 pm | Readers 77

After I had submitted my two previous book reviews to him (here and here), Mick suggested I also try one on “my favourite book”. Well, probably one of the most enjoyable and thought-provoking political reads I’ve had over the last couple of years is Billy Bragg’s “The Progressive Patriot”. For those readers not of a certain vintage, Billy Bragg is a singer-songwriter who has delivered his own “back-to-basics”, “Stripped down” style of polemical leftish tunes for near enough 30 years. He’s also now an author …

Yet more devolved discrimination

oneill on November 30, 2011, 9:14 pm | Readers 63

Edinburgh and St Andrews Universities, which are the most popular in Scotland with students from the rest of the UK, have decided to charge £36,000 for a four-year course- their degree courses will be the most expensive in the nation. The SNP’s Education Secretary Mike Russell has (bearing in mind his party is the architect of the discriminatory tuition fee policy) hypocritically criticised the two institutions. Robin Parker, president of the National Union of Students in Scotland, said: “We’re deeply disappointed that …

“Good Friday. The death of Irish Republicanism” by Anthony McIntyre: a review

oneill on November 17, 2011, 2:23 pm | Readers 398

This was a book that I first reviewed at the same time as “Unionism Decayed” back in 2008. Like Vance’s work, it is the author’s portrayal of a defeated political movement or ideal and as a Unionist it was instructional to read an interpretation of the immediate post-Agreement period from the other side of the fence. It was also interesting to read it again three years later to see how much and how little Irish Republicanism, as preached and practiced by …

“Unionism Decayed 1997-2007” by David Vance: book review

oneill on November 13, 2011, 2:57 pm | Readers 872

I initially wrote this when the book was first published three years ago; whilst certain elements of it now sound dated, its basic premise that the period of 1997-2007 was a period of irreversible decay for Northern Irish Unionism can still be argued as a valid opinion. My own feeling is that it did indeed herald the end of the traditional monolithic form of Unionism but not necessarily even the beginning of the end of N.Ireland’s place within the Union. …

Is O’Flaherty prepared to rattle all the cages?

oneill on October 16, 2011, 4:37 pm | Readers 37

Editor’s note: *See the bottom of the article for an important footnote from Professor O’Flaherty… In last Monday’s Irish Times, we were helpfully informed that “Michael O’Flaherty has carried out much work promoting human rights” which was a relief to read, especially bearing in mind his new position as Monica McWilliams’ replacement at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC). But it is the nature of at least some of that “work” and the fact that he is a “Southerner” which led both the …

Some serious Unionist thinking required…

oneill on September 27, 2011, 1:28 pm | Readers 24

Peter Robinson, July 2009: When I first became the leader of the DUP, I stated that one of my objectives would be to increase the confidence and understanding of the Unionist people concerning their history and heritage. My plans for the development of a Unionist Academy are at an advanced stage and will be made public soon. That pledge followed on from this promise made in June 2008: Party leader Peter Robinson yesterday revealed plans for a Unionist Academy, which will …

An alternative (economic) Future

oneill on September 23, 2011, 2:15 pm | Readers 1

Conservative Future (the youth movement of the UK Conservative Party) is presently the largest political organisation on British campuses. Ben Howlett, as a candidate for the post of the organisation’s chairmanship, last year created a major political kerfuffle (OK, make that a kerfuffle within right-of-centre student political circles!) by answering the question posed during the campaign: “Which politician do you most relate to and respect in Northern Ireland?” with a crisp “Gerry Adams”. Surprisingly enough, considering the raw hurt …

“The Committee continues to question whether it is possible to sit in two national legislatures simultaneously”

oneill on September 15, 2011, 5:12 pm | Readers 9

Only (as far as I am aware) the NI Conservatives have commented on this– it will be interesting to see what the other more directly affected parties make of it; probably busily sweeping it under the carpet as we speak… Anyway… the Committee on Standards for Public Life released its annual report (pdf) today and it made the following points about dual mandates: Devolved legislatures Dual mandates 39. In the Committee’s twelfth report we made a recommendation that the practice of permitting a Westminster MP to …

Friday morning, 9 o’clock- just a bit too early for N.Ireland’s MPs…

oneill on September 12, 2011, 2:47 pm | Readers 11

I’ve written before about Harriett Baldwin’s Legislation (Territorial Extent) Bill and in particular Ian Paisley Jr’s opposition to its provisions, here. Amongst other things, the Bill relates to “the ‘West Lothian Question’, whereby Members representing constituencies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may vote on legislation that applies only to England. If this were addressed by having a special way of voting on ‘England only’ legislation, then this Bill would provide a means of identifying some of those Bills”. As …

Congressman Peter King- leading the crusade, three decades too late.

oneill on September 8, 2011, 7:02 pm | Readers 6

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, The Daily Mail reports today that it has cost three trillion dollars since that terrible day to “keep Americans safe”. Not only the financial cost is involved of course; there is also the huge loss of military and civilian life and also the undeniable curtailment of civil liberties not only in the US but throughout the world. Congressman Peter King, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, believes it …

Liofa 2015- what’s to lose?

oneill on September 3, 2011, 2:55 pm | Readers 182

Northern Irish sports stars are apparently to be “targeted” but thankfully this time it is with something more benign than letter bombs or online hate messages: Sports stars targeted in Irish push Northern Ireland’s police service and a string of sporting bodies are being asked to back a plan to create an extra 1,000 Irish speakers by 2015. Culture Minister Caral Ni Chuilin will ask high-profile figures, plus members of the public, to agree to try to become “liofa”, Irish …

The British Blundering Corporation strikes once again…

oneill on August 30, 2011, 12:52 pm | Readers 17

… or something altogether more sinister??! Whatever; licence payers in British Ulster have a right to know why they have been unilaterally handed over to the Republic without so much of a squeek about “consent principles”, “Belfast Agreements”….etc (Hat-tip to the Campaign for an English Parliament) Update: All now sorted, from a N.Irish point of view anyway: North Belfast DUP MP Nigel Dodds has received a letter from BBC Director General Mark Thompson apologising for the incorrect use of a Republic of Ireland tricolour to …

John Larkin versus the Human Rights’ Industry: Round 2

oneill on July 10, 2011, 2:51 pm | Readers 7

John Larkin, N.Ireland’s attorney general (and senior legal advisor to the Stormont Executive) has fired a well-aimed Exocet at the local Human Rights’ industry in Friday’s News Letter: “I very much and profoundly see myself as a human rights lawyer. Now one can ask: What is meant by that? “But what I’m very concerned about is two things. One is the trivialisation of human rights; the other is the idolisation of human rights and both are great dangers.” He says that …

The only good Quango is a dea… efficiently run, accountable and cost-effective one.

oneill on July 2, 2011, 5:37 pm | Readers 23

From The News Letter, February this year: As Stormont trims the health, education and water budgets, a leaked report has revealed some staggering facts about spending at a little known quango, reports political correspondent Sam McBride. Yet new figures show that last year the quango spent just 11.6 per cent of its £1.8 million budget on ‘programmes’ aimed at children. The majority went on essentially administrative costs such as advertising, PR, a costly city centre office and salaries, according to …

Loyalist disenchantment moves along the Gold Coast

oneill on June 27, 2011, 3:32 pm | Readers 137

From last week’s North Down Spectator what, at first sight, appeared to be an insignificant piece of news: EIGHT of Bangor’s eleventh night bonfire celebrations will now be deregulated, it has been revealed this week. The Spectator understands that a total of eight local bonfires have now pulled out of the bonfire management programme following a dispute with North Down Borough Council. This means that over half of the bonfires lit across the borough could be burning hazardous materials such as tyres, …

Online is no longer out of sight (and beyond the law).

oneill on June 22, 2011, 7:01 pm | Readers 4

The next time Mick Fealty removes your comment from a thread don’t whinge, he may well have saved you a conviction: An unemployed chef from Londonderry has been convicted of using the social network site Facebook to post a threatening message that said DUP MP Gregory Campbell should be shot. O’Donnell denied the message was either offensive or menacing. “Menacing” is a matter of opinion, I guess. If you’re serious about putting a bullet in an MP’s head, then you’re probably unlikely to …

Creativity Alert at City Hall.

oneill on June 17, 2011, 9:02 pm | Readers 4

The new arrivals who have joined us in Belfast over the last decade tend to (perhaps understandably) keep a low profile, however one familiar figure from the streets of East Belfast did make an appearance on national radio this week. Wilson Magwere, a Zimbabwean musician and political refugee (sort it out Home Office) from the Mugabe regime, featured this week on Radio 4’s “Lives in a Landscape” series. Having rocked the iconic Pigstock Festival last month, he’ll be playing tomorrow at the City Hall with his band …

“The Resurrection of Hungary: A Parallel for Ireland”? No, fortunately not.

oneill on June 16, 2011, 6:00 pm | Readers 25

Within the restraints of 140 characters, he somehow manages to deliver a full range of cod fireside homilies; GAA-related similes stretched well beyond their natural snapping point and (naturally) playground stylee anti-Brit insults… but nevertheless for his myriad of Unionist followers on Twitter Barry McElduff is a must-read, the gift which simply refuses point-blank to stop giving. There have been so many to choose from but the comment which has caused perhaps the greatest mirth to his pro-Union devotees side …